Moesin fragments and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present application provides compositions and methods useful for detecting and monitoring autoimmune diseases in a human subject. The methods comprise providing a moesin fragment for binding to an anti-moesin autoantibody and contacting the moesin fragment with a sample obtained from the human subject. The moesin fragment comprises the entire N-terminal FERM domain of a human moesin protein. The human subject has or is suspected of having an autoimmune disease such as connective tissue disease, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren&#39;s syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a national phase stage of international applicationPCT/CN2011/080519, filed Oct. 08, 2011, which claims the priority tointernational application PCT/CN2010/077587filed Oct. 08, 2010, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to the diagnosis andtreatments of autoimmune diseases. More specifically, the presentapplication concerns methods and compositions based on presence andlevels of antigen-specific autoantibodies associated with variousaspects of autoimmune diseases.

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune diseases are diseases arising from aberrant response of theimmune system against one's own substances and tissues. There are morethan 80 different types of autoimmune diseases that, collectively,amount to the number two cause of chronic illness, and one of the top 10leading causes of death in women of all age groups up to 64 years.

Significant medical research efforts have been devoted to understandingthe mechanism of autoimmune diseases and finding effective diagnosis andtreatments therefore. Many autoimmune diseases are now characterized bythe presence and undesirable activities of autoantibodies. Theseautoantibodies recognize and bind to often normal and healthy selfantigens, thereby causing significant damages and failures of relevanttissues and organs.

Many autoimmune antigens have been identified by immunoassays with serafrom patients with autoimmune diseases. One of such target antigens ismoesin—membrane-organizing extension spike protein, found to be reactiveto autoantibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Wagatsumaet al., Mol. Immuol., 33:1171-6 (1996). Moesin was initially identifiedin bovine uterus and characterized as a possible receptor for heparin.Lankes et al., Biochem J. 251:831-42 (1988). Further studies havecharacterized moesin as a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM)protein family. These are proteins that are primarily expressed incytoplasm, concentrated in actin rich cell-surface structures. They actas structural linkers between the plasma membrane and the actincytoskeleton, playing roles in the formation of microvilli, cell-celladhesion, maintenance of cell shape, cell mobility and membranetrafficking. Later studies have revealed that they are also involved inphysiological and pathological signal transductions. Louvet-Vallee,Biol. Cell 92:305-16 (2000).

Sequence and structural analysis of the ERM proteins revealed that theyshare high degrees of inter-species and inter-molecular homologies. TheERM proteins have three domains: an N-terminal domain called FERM domain(band four-point-one, ezrin, radixin, moesin homology domain) because ofits homology with the band 4.1 protein, a central helical domain and aC-terminal tail domain. The C-terminal tail domain binds F-actin whilethe N-terminal FERM domain is responsible for binding to adhesionmolecules in the plasma membrane. Louvet-Vallee (2000).

Wagatsuma et al (1996) reported detections of anti-ERM autoantibodies inRA patients. Of the 71 patient sera tested, 24 samples (33.8%) reactedwith at least one of the recombinant ERM antigens and 10 samples (14%)reacted with recombinant moesin alone. However, the study did not findsignificant correlation between the presence of anti-ERM antibodies andclinical manifestation, such as disease duration or stage. Moreover,sera from patients with other autoimmune diseases such as PrimarySojgren's Syndrome (PSS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) did notshow any reactivity to the three ERM proteins.

Takamatsu et al reported detection of specific antibodies to moesin inthe sera of patients with acquired aplastic anemia (AA). Takamatsu etal., Blood 109:2514-20 (2007). Using ELISA, anti-moesin antibodies wereshown at high titers in 25 of 67 (37%) AA patients. Further in vitrostudies showed that anti-moesin antibodies from AA patients inducedinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ, implicating its role inthe pathophysiology of the disease. Espinoza et al., Intl. Immu.21:913-23 (2009); Takamatsu et al., J. Immunol. 182:703 (2009).

One of the challenges in clinical management of autoimmune diseases isthe accurate and early identification of the diseases in a patient. Tothis end, it would be highly advantageous to have molecular-baseddiagnostic tools that can be used to objectively identify presenceand/or extent of disease in a patient. The present application describedherein provides these tools and other benefits.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present application provides compositions and methods for diagnosingand monitoring autoimmune disorders based at least in part on thegeneration of moesin fragments from particular moesin functional domainsand their uses for detecting anti-moesin autoantibodies in biologicalsamples, whose presence and level in turn correlate with disease typeand stage in patients with autoimmune disorders.

In one aspect, the present application provides a composition comprisinga moesin fragment capable of binding to an anti-moesin autoantibody,wherein the moesin fragment comprises at least ten consecutive aminoacid residues from a human moesin protein domain, wherein the humanmoesin protein domain is selected from the group consisting of theN-terminal FERM domain, the helical domain and the C-terminal taildomain of the human moesin protein, and wherein the moesin fragment isnot a full length human moesin protein. In certain embodiments, theN-terminal FERM domain consists of amino acid residues 1-297 of thehuman moesin protein, the helical domain consists of amino acid residues298-470 of the human moesin protein, and the C-terminal tail domainconsists of amino acid residues 471-577 of the human moesin protein.

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationcomprises at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 consecutiveamino acid residues of the N-terminal FERM domain, the helical domain orthe C-terminal tail domain of the human moesin protein. In certainembodiments, the moesin fragment comprises at least 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30consecutive amino acid residues of the N-terminal FERM domain, thehelical domain or the C-terminal tail domain of the human moesinprotein.

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationcomprises at least ten consecutive amino acid residues from the regionbetween amino acid residues 2-297, 3-297, 4-297, 1-294, 1-295, 1-296,299-470, 300-470, 298-468, 298-469, 472-577, 473-577, 471-575 or 471-576of the human moesin protein. In certain embodiments, the moesin fragmentof the present application comprises at least ten consecutive amino acidresidues from the region between amino acid residues 1-94, 95-201,202-297, 471-478, 488-501 or 502-577 of the human moesin protein. In oneembodiment, the moesin fragment comprises the entire N-terminal FERMdomain of human moesin protein; in another embodiment, the moesinfragment comprises the entire helical and C-terminal tail domains ofhuman moesin protein; in yet another embodiment, the moesin fragmentcomprises the entire helical domain of human moesin protein; in stillanother embodiment, the moesin fragment comprises the entire C-terminaltail domain of human moesin protein.

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationconsists essentially of the N-terminal FERM domain of the human moesinprotein or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the moesinfragment of the present application consists essentially of amino acidresidues 1-297, 1-94, 95-201 or 202-297 of the human moesin protein or afragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of thepresent application consists essentially of the helical domain of thehuman moesin protein or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, themoesin fragment of the present application consists essentially of aminoacid residues 298-470 of the human moesin protein or a fragment thereof.In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationconsists essentially of the C-terminal tail domain of the human moesinprotein or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the moesinfragment of the present application consists essentially of amino acidresidues 471-577, 471-478, 488-501 or 502-577 of the human moesinprotein or a fragment thereof.

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationcomprises at least ten consecutive amino acids of the N-terminal FERMdomain of the human moesin protein, wherein the moesin fragment does notcontain any substantial portion of the helical domain and the C-terminaltail domain of the human moesin protein. As used herein the term“substantial portion” refers to a portion of the relevant domain(helical domain or N-terminal FERM domain or C-terminal tail domain)that can compete with such domain (helical domain or N-terminal FERMdomain or C-terminal tail domain) for specific binding to an antibodycapable of binding to the entire relevant domain (helical domain orN-terminal FERM domain or C-terminal tail domain).

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationcomprises at least ten consecutive amino acids of the helical domain ofthe human moesin protein, wherein the moesin fragment does not containany substantial portion of the N-terminal FERM domain and the C-terminaltail domain of the human moesin protein.

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationcomprises at least ten consecutive amino acids of the C-terminal taildomain of the human moesin protein, wherein the moesin fragment does notcontain any substantial portion of the N-terminal FERM domain and thehelical domain of the human moesin protein.

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationshares an amino acid sequence identify of at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%,90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% with the N-terminal FERM domain of humanmoesin protein or a fragment thereof, or the helical domain of humanmoesin protein or a fragment thereof, or the C-terminal tail domain ofthe human moesin protein or a fragment thereof. In certain embodiments,the moesin fragment shares an amino acid sequence identify of at least70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% with the amino acidsequence selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 1-94,95-201, 202-297, 471-478, 488-501 or 502-577 of the human moesinprotein. In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the presentapplication share an amino acid sequence identify of at least 70%, 75%,80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% with the entire N-terminalFERM domain, or the entire helical domain, or the entire C-terminal taildomain of human moesin protein.

In certain embodiments, the moesin fragment of the present applicationfurther comprises a carrier polypeptide. The term “carrier polypeptide”refers to any peptide or polypeptide that can be conjugated to themoesin fragment of the present application. A carrier polypeptide can bebeneficial to the peptide of the present application, e.g. to promotethe stability, solubility, specific or non-specific binding affinityand/or function of the peptide of the present application. However, acarrier polypeptide is not required to provide any benefit or evenbiological function to the peptide of the present application. Commonlyused carrier polypeptides includes, but not limited to, human serumalbumin, bovine serum albumin, antibody fragments such as the antibodyconstant region.

In one aspect, the present application provides uses of the moesinfragment described herein or an antibody thereof in the manufacture of adiagnostic composition for detection of an anti-moesin autoantibody in asample from a subject.

A sample can be any biological composition that is obtained or derivedfrom a subject of interest that contains a cellular and/or othermolecular entity that is to be characterized and/or identified, forexample based on physical, biochemical, chemical and/or physiologicalcharacteristics. In certain embodiments, the sample is a blood samplecomprising whole blood, serum or plasma obtained from a subject. Asubject can be a human or an animal subject. In certain aspects, thehuman subject has or is suspected of having an autoimmune disorder, suchas connective tissue disease (CTD), systemic sclerosis, Sjogren'sSyndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic Lupus erythematosus. In oneaspect, the CTD is associated with pulmonary complications such as, butnot limited to, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), interstitial lungdisease (ILD), lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,bronchiectasis and lung infection. Detection can be conducted in vitro,in vivo or ex vivo.

In one aspect, the autoimmune disorder to be diagnosed by the presentapplication is associated with abnormal epithelial cells or abnormalvascular endothelial cells. In certain embodiments, thedisease-associated epithelial cells or vascular endothelial cellsundergo abnormal proliferation; in other embodiments, these cellsundergo abnormal apoptosis. In some other aspects, the autoimmunedisorder to be diagnosed by the present application is associated withfibrosis of tissues or organs of the subject.

In one aspect, autoantibody can be detected in a number of ways, such asby Western blotting and ELISA procedures for assaying a wide variety oftissues and samples, including plasma or serum. A wide range ofimmunoassay techniques using such an assay format are available. Theseinclude both single-site and two-site or “sandwich” assays of thenon-competitive types, as well as in the traditional competitive bindingassays. These assays also include direct binding of a labeled antigen totarget autoantibodies.

In one aspect, the present application provides an antibody detectionpanel for detecting anti-moesin autoantibody in a sample, said antibodydetection panel comprising a moesin fragment and a substrate upon whichthe moesin fragment is immobilized. In one aspect, the substrate is asolid phase. In one embodiment, the antibody detection panel of thepresent application comprises two moesin fragments that represent twodifferent moesin domains for the purpose of calculating and comparingrelative differences in autoantibody levels for different moesindomains. In another embodiment, the antibody detection panel of thepresent application comprises three moesin fragments representing thethree different moesin domains (N-terminal FERM domain, helical domain,C-terminal tail domain) for calculating relative differences inautoantibody levels. The antibody detection panels of the presentapplication can be made into detection kits along with instructions forhow to use the detection panels.

In one aspect, the antibody detection panel further comprises asecondary antibody as a detecting agent capable of binding toanti-moesin autoantibodies. In some embodiments, the secondary antibodyis chemically labeled. Many antibodies can be used as a secondaryantibody, such as a goat-anti human IgG. In another aspect, autoantibodycan be detected without using a secondary antibody as detecting agent.Many known techniques for direct detection of antigen-antibody bindingsare available and can be used to practice the present application.

In one aspect, the present application provides an anti-moesin antibodycapable of binding to the moesin fragment as described above. Suchantibody is capable of competing with moesin autoantibodies for bindingto a specific moesin fragment in a subject. Such antibody can be used ina competition binding assay, wherein the reduction of binding signalscan be indicative of the presence and level of the correspondingautoantibodies.

In one aspect, the present application provides a method of detecting ananti-moesin autoantibody in a sample, comprising contacting a moesinfragment as described above with the sample to allow antigen-antibodybinding, and detecting the antibody binding to the moesin fragment.

In one aspect, the present application provides a method of diagnosingan autoimmune disorder in a subject, comprising contacting a moesinfragment as described above with a sample obtained from the subjectunder antigen-antibody binding conditions and determining whether theanti-moesin autoantibody level of the sample is significantly greaterthan that of a normal reference sample, thereby indicating that thesubject has an autoimmune disorder.

In one aspect, the present application provides a method of detecting ananti-moesin autoantibody in a sample, comprising contacting a firstmoesin fragment and a second moesin fragment as described above with thesample to allow antigen-antibody binding to the first moesin fragmentand the second moesin fragment, respectively, and detecting the antibodybinding to the those moesin fragments, wherein the first and secondmoesin fragments comprise amino acids sequences from different domainsof the human moesin protein. The different levels of the anti-moesinautoantibodies binding to the first and second moesin fragments,respectively, may be correlated with the different stages and degrees ofseverity of an autoimmune disorder in a subject. In certain embodiments,the sample is tested for binding of the first moesin fragment to theanti-moesin antibodies before tested for binding of the second moesinfragment to the anti-moesin antibodies. In certain embodiments, thesample is tested for binding of the first and second moesin fragments tothe anti-moesin antibodies at the same time. In certain embodiments, thesample is tested for binding of the first moesin fragment to theanti-moesin antibodies after tested for binding of the second moesinfragment to the anti-moesin antibodies, and then tested at higherconcentration of the sample for binding of the second moesin fragment tothe anti-moesin antibodies again.

In one aspect, the present application provides a method of detecting ananti-moesin autoantibody in a sample, comprising contacting a first,second and third moesin fragments as described above with the sample toallow antigen-antibody binding to the first, second and third moesinfragments, respectively, and detecting the antibody binding to the thosemoesin fragments, wherein the first, second and third moesin fragmentscomprise amino acids sequences from different domains of the humanmoesin protein. In certain embodiments, the sample is tested for bindingof the first, second and third moesin fragments to the anti-moesinantibodies sequentially. In certain embodiments, the sample is testedfor binding of the first, second and third moesin fragments to theanti-moesin antibodies at the same time.

In one aspect, the present application provides a method of determiningthe pathological state of a patient having an autoimmune disorder,comprising contacting under antigen-antibody binding conditions a moesinfragment as described above with a sample obtained from the patient;measuring the level of anti-moesin autoantibody reactive to the moesinfragment in the sample; and determining the pathological state of thepatient according to a comparison of the anti-moesin autoantibody levelto a reference database correlating anti-moesin autoantibody levels topathological states of the autoimmune disorder.

In one embodiment, the present application provides a method ofmonitoring treatment progress in a patient undergoing an autoimmunedisorder therapy, comprising contacting under antigen-antibody bindingconditions a moesin fragment with a sample obtained from the patient;measuring the anti-moesin autoantibody level in said sample; andcomparing the autoantibody level to that of a reference sample obtainedfrom the same patient prior to the therapy, wherein a decrease in titeris indicative of positive response of the subject to the treatment.

In some embodiments, the present application provides methods ofanalyzing a sample obtained from a subject, comprising the followingsteps: a) providing an antibody detection panel as described above; b)contacting under antigen-antibody binding conditions the antibodydetection panel with a sample; c) detecting any presence of anti-moesinautoantibodies in the sample; and d) measuring the anti-moesinautoantibody levels in step c). Optionally, the methods further comprisee) comparing the level from step d) to that of a reference sample or areference database. In some aspects, the methods of analyzing samplesaccording to the present application are used for purposes of diseasediagnosis, disease progression, disease prognosis or treatment response.In one aspect, the subject can be a human patient having or suspected ofhaving an autoimmune disease. When two or more moesin fragmentsrepresenting different moesin domains are used in the antibody detectionpanel (such as an ELISA assay), the methods can further comprisingcomparing relative autoantibody levels for different moesin fragmentsand correlating the differences with disease type, disease stage ortreatment response of the subject patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Amino acid sequence of the full length human moesin protein (SEQID NO:1, also referred as to Moesin-5).

FIG. 2. Amino acid sequence of moesin fragments: Moesin-1 (SEQ ID NO:2);Moesin-2 (SEQ ID NO:3); Moesin-3 (SEQ ID NO:4); Moesin-4 (SEQ ID NO:5).

FIG. 3. cDNA sequence encoding for the full length human moesin protein(SEQ ID NO:6).

FIG. 4. Cloning map of the pET32a(+) expression vector.

FIG. 5. Cloning map of the pET28a(+) expression vector.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The practice of the present application will employ, unless otherwiseindicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology (includingrecombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry, andimmunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques areexplained fully in the literature, such as, “Molecular Cloning: ALaboratory Manual”, second edition (Sambrook et al., 1989);“Oligonucleotide Synthesis” (M. J. Gait, ed., 1984); “Animal CellCulture” (R. I. Freshney, ed., 1987); “Methods in Enzymology” series(Academic Press, Inc.); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” (F. M.Ausubel et al., eds., 1987, and periodic updates); “PCR: The PolymeraseChain Reaction”, (Mullis et al., eds., 1994). Primers, polynucleotidesand polypeptides employed in the present application can be generatedusing standard techniques known in the art.

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Singleton et al., Dictionary ofMicrobiology and Molecular Biology 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons (New York,N.Y. 1994), and March, Advanced Organic Chemistry Reactions, Mechanismsand Structure 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1992), provideone skilled in the art with a general guide to many of the terms used inthe present application.

Definitions

The term “moesin” stands for membrane-organizing extension spikeprotein, as described in Lankes and Furthmayr (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci., 88:8297-8301. Full length human moesin protein is a 577-amino acidpolypeptide having an amino acid sequence as set forth in FIG. 1 (SEQ IDNO:1). The moesin protein consists of three domains: the N-terminal FERMdomain, the helical domain, and the C-terminal tail domain, as furtherdefined below. It belongs to the ERM (ezrin-radixin-moesin) family. Thethree ERM proteins, primarily expressed in cytoplasm right beneath theplasma membrane, share high degrees of sequence homology and act aslinking proteins between the plasma membrane and the actin cytoskeleton.Furthermore, human moesin protein shares high degrees of sequencehomology with moesins from other species such as mouse and bovinemoesins. Sato et al. (1992) J. Cell Sci. 103:131-143.

The term “moesin fragment” refers to a portion of the moesin polypeptidethat is shorter than the full length wild type moesin protein, and thatis capable of binding to an anti-moesin autoantibody. Useful in thepresent application are such moesin fragments capable of binding todomain-specific anti-moesin autoantibodies. A “fragment” of the moesinfragment means a portion of the moesin fragment that is shorter thansuch moesin fragment, and that retains the ability of binding to ananti-moesin autoantibody.

The “N-terminal FERM domain” of human moesin protein refers to theglobular portion of the wild type human moesin protein structurallyproximate to the amino-terminal of the protein and functionallyresponsible for localizing the protein to the plasma membrane andinteracting with adhesion molecules. The FERM domain, which stands forband four-point-one, ezrin, radixin, moesin homology domain because ofits homology with the band 4.1 protein, defines members of the band 4.1superfamily, which includes cytoskeletal proteins such as erythrocyteband 4.1, talin, and the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) protein family, aswell as several tyrosine kinases and phosphatases and the tumorsuppressor protein merlin. Specifically, the term refers to the firstabout 297 amino acid residues of the mature form of human moesin protein(e.g., amino acid residues 1-297 (SEQ ID NO:2)). In certain literatures,the same domain is also known as N-ERM associated domain (N-ERMAD),which is included in the definition herein. Bretscher et al. (1995)Biochem. 34, 16830-7.

The “C-terminal tail domain” of human moesin protein refers to theportion of the wild type human moesin protein structurally proximate tothe carboxy-terminal of the protein and functionally responsible forbinding to and interacting with actin filaments. The tail domain ofmoesin is positively charged and adopts an extended, meanderingstructure. Specifically, the term refers to the last about 107 aminoacid residues of human moesin protein (e.g., amino acid residues 471-577(SEQ ID NO:5)). In certain literatures, the same domain is also known asC-ERM associated domain (C-ERMAD), which is included in the definitionherein. Bretscher et al. (1995). The last 34 amino acid residues of theC-terminal tail domain are highly conserved amongst ERM proteins andforms the region for binding to F-actin. Within the F-actin bindingregion, there exists a threonine residue (Thr558 in wild type humanmoesin) that is phosphorylated during the activation of the protein.

The “helical domain” of human moesin protein refers to the centralportion of the wild type human moesin resided in between the N-terminalFERM domain and the C-terminal tail domain. It adopts an extendedalpha-helical structure, acting as a linker between the two terminaldomains. Specifically the term refers to the region encompassing aboutamino acid residues 298-470 of human moesin protein (SEQ ID NO:4).

The term “anti-moesin autoantibody” refers to an anti-moesin antibodyproduced by an individual's immune system that recognizes and binds tosuch individual's own moesin protein or fragments thereof. The presenceof anti-moesin autoantibody can be associated with an autoimmunedisorder, and the titer of such anti-moesin autoantibody in the body maycorrelate to the pathological state of the autoimmune disorder.

The term “diagnosis” is used herein to refer to the identification of amolecular or pathological state, disease or condition, such as theidentification of an autoimmune disease, or to refer to identificationof a patient with autoimmune disease who may benefit from a particulartreatment regimen. In one embodiment, diagnosis refers to theidentification of a particular type of autoimmune disorder. In yetanother embodiment, diagnosis refers to the identification of autoimmunedisorder associated with higher than normal presence of anti-moesinautoantibodies in a subject.

The term “prognosis” is used herein to refer to the prediction of thelikelihood of outcomes of disease symptoms, including, for example,recurrence, flaring, and drug resistance, of a disease. The term alsorefers to the prediction of the likelihood of clinical benefit from atherapy.

The term “prediction” is used herein to refer to the likelihood that apatient will respond either favorably or unfavorably to a drug or set ofdrugs or a particular therapy course. In one embodiment, the predictionrelates to the extent of those responses. In one embodiment, theprediction relates to whether and/or the probability that a patient willsurvive or improve following treatment, for example treatment with aparticular therapeutic agent, and for a certain period of time withoutdisease recurrence. The predictive methods of the present applicationcan be used clinically to make treatment decisions by choosing the mostappropriate treatment modalities for any particular patient. Thepredictive methods of the present application are valuable tools inpredicting if a patient is likely to respond favorably to a treatmentregimen, such as a given therapeutic regimen, including for example,administration of a given therapeutic agent or combination, surgicalintervention, steroid treatment, etc., or whether long-term survival ofthe patient, following a therapeutic regimen is likely.

An “autoimmune disorder” or “autoimmune disease” herein is a disease ordisorder arising from an immune response directed against anindividual's own substances and tissues. Examples of autoimmune diseasesor disorders include, but are not limited to, inflammatory responsessuch as inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis and dermatitis(e.g. atopic dermatitis); systemic scleroderma and sclerosis; responsesassociated with inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease andulcerative colitis); respiratory distress syndrome (including adultrespiratory distress syndrome; ARDS); dermatitis; meningitis;encephalitis; uveitis; colitis; glomerulonephritis; allergic conditionssuch as eczema and asthma and other conditions involving infiltration ofT cells and chronic inflammatory responses; atherosclerosis; leukocyteadhesion deficiency; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) (including but not limited to lupus nephritis, cutaneous lupus);diabetes mellitus (e.g. Type I diabetes mellitus or insulin dependentdiabetes mellitis); multiple sclerosis; Reynaud's syndrome; autoimmunethyroiditis; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; allergic encephalomyelitis;Sjogren's syndrome; juvenile onset diabetes; and immune responsesassociated with acute and delayed hypersensitivity mediated by cytokinesand T-lymphocytes typically found in tuberculosis, sarcoidosis,polymyositis, granulomatosis and vasculitis; pernicious anemia(Addison's disease); diseases involving leukocyte diapedesis; centralnervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorder; multiple organ injurysyndrome; hemolytic anemia (including, but not limited to cryoglobinemiaor Coombs positive anemia); myasthenia gravis; antigen-antibody complexmediated diseases; anti-glomerular basement membrane disease;antiphospholipid syndrome; allergic neuritis; Graves' disease;Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome; pemphigoid bullous; pemphigus;autoimmune polyendocrinopathies; Reiter's disease; stiff-man syndrome;Behcet disease; giant cell arteritis; immune complex nephritis; IgAnephropathy; IgM polyneuropathies; immune thrombocytopenic purpura (YIP)or autoimmune thrombocytopenia etc.

“Sample” or “test sample” herein refers to a composition that isobtained or derived from a subject of interest that contains a cellularand/or other molecular entity that is to be characterized and/oridentified, for example based on physical, biochemical, chemical and/orphysiological characteristics. In one embodiment, the definitionencompasses blood and other liquid samples of biological origin andtissue samples such as a biopsy specimen or tissue cultures or cellsderived therefrom or cell culture. The source of the tissue sample maybe solid tissue as from a fresh, frozen and/or preserved organ or tissuesample or biopsy or aspirate; blood or any blood constituents such asplasma or serum; bodily fluids; and cells from any time in gestation ordevelopment of the subject or plasma. In another embodiment, the sampleis whole blood, serum or plasma obtained from a subject. A subject canbe a human or an animal subject. In another embodiment, a subject has oris suspected of having an autoimmune disorder. In another embodiment,the definition includes biological samples that have been manipulated inany way after their procurement, such as by treatment with reagents,solubilization, or enrichment for certain components, such as proteinsor polynucleotides.

In one embodiment, a sample is obtained from a subject or patient priorto any treatment. In another embodiment, a test sample is obtainedduring or after treatment such as autoimmune disorder therapy. In oneembodiment, the test sample is a clinical sample. In another embodiment,the test sample is used in a diagnostic assay. In another embodiment,the sample is pre-tested with other known clinical techniques beforebeing tested with the methods of the present application. In certainembodiments, the sample is pre-tested for, for example, full bloodcount, liver enzymes, renal function, vitamin B₁₂ levels, folic acidlevels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, peripheral blood smear, bonemarrow biopsy and the like.

A “reference sample”, “reference cell”, or “reference tissue”, as usedherein, refers to a sample, cell or tissue obtained from a source known,or believed, not to be afflicted with the disease or condition for whicha method or composition of the present application is being used toidentify. In one embodiment, a reference sample, reference cell orreference tissue is obtained from a healthy part of the body of the samesubject or patient in whom a disease or condition is being identifiedusing a composition or method of the present application. In oneembodiment, a reference sample, reference cell or reference tissue isobtained from a healthy part of the body of an individual who is not thesubject or patient in whom a disease or condition is being identifiedusing a composition or method of the present application.

A “reference database”, as used herein, refers to a collection of data,standard, or level from one or more reference samples or diseasereference samples. In one embodiment, such collection of data, standardor level are normalized so that they can be used for comparison purposewith data from one or more sample. “Normalize” or “normalization” is aprocess by which a measurement raw data is converted into data that maybe directly compared with other so normalized data. Normalization isused to overcome assay-specific errors caused by factors that may varyfrom one assay to another, for example, variation in loaded quantities,binding efficiency, detection sensitivity, and other various errors. Inone embodiment, a reference database includes titers of anti-moesinautoantibodies, platelet counts, blood cell counts, and/or otherlaboratory and clinical data from one or more reference samples ordisease reference samples. In one embodiment, a reference databaseincludes levels of anti-moesin autoantibodies that are each normalizedas a percent of the level of anti-moesin autoantibody of a controlsample (e.g. a known amount of anti-moesin autoantibody) tested underthe same conditions as the reference samples or disease referencesamples. In order to compare with such normalized levels of anti-moesinautoantibodies, the level of anti-moesin autoantibody of a test sampleis also measured and calculated as a percent of the level of anti-moesinautoantibody of a control sample tested under the same conditions as thetest sample. In one embodiment, a reference database is established bycompiling reference sample data from healthy subjects and/ornon-diseased part of the body of the same subject or patient in whom adisease or condition is being identified using a composition or methodof the present application. In one embodiment, a reference database isestablished by compiling data from disease reference samples fromindividuals under treatment for autoimmune disease. In one embodiment, areference database is established by compiling data from diseasereference samples from individuals at different stages of autoimmunedisease as evidenced by, for example, different levels of plateletcounts and other clinical indications.

In certain embodiments, the term “increase” refers to an overallincrease of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%,90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or greater, in the level of autoantibody,detected by standard art known methods such as those described herein,as compared to a reference sample or a disease reference sample. Incertain embodiments, the term increase refers to the increase in thelevel of autoantibody in the sample wherein the increase is at leastabout 1.25×, 1.5×, 1.75×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 10×, 25×, 50×,75×, or 100× the level of autoantibody in the reference sample.

In certain embodiments, the term “decrease” herein refers to an overallreduction of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%,65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or greater, in thelevel of autoantibody, detected by standard art known methods such asthose described herein, as compared to a reference sample or a diseasereference sample. In certain embodiments, the term decrease refers tothe decrease in the level of autoantibody in the sample wherein thedecrease is at least about 0.9×, 0.8×, 0.7×, 0.6×, 0.5×, 0.4×, 0.3×,0.2×, 0.1×, 0.05×, or 0.01× the level of the autoantibody in thereference sample.

The term “detection antibody” refers to an antibody that is capable ofbeing detected either directly through a label amplified by a detectionmeans, or indirectly through, e.g., another antibody that is labeled.For direct labeling, the antibody is typically conjugated to a moietythat is detectable by some means. In one embodiment, the detectableantibody is biotinylated antibody.

The term “detection means” refers to a moiety or technique used todetect the presence of the detectable antibody in the ELISA herein andincludes detection agents that amplify the immobilized label such aslabel captured onto a microtiter plate. In one embodiment, the detectionmeans is a colorimetric detection agent such as avidin orstreptavidin-HRP. In another embodiment, the detection means is aH₂O₂/TMB coloring system.

The term “capture reagent” refers to a reagent capable of binding andcapturing a target molecule in a sample such that under suitablecondition, the capture reagent-target molecule complex can be separatedfrom the rest of the sample. Typically, the capture reagent isimmobilized or immobilizable. In a sandwich immunoassay, the capturereagent is preferably an antibody or a mixture of different antibodiesagainst a target antigen.

By “correlate” or “correlating” is meant comparing, in any way, theperformance and/or results of a first analysis or protocol with theperformance and/or results of a second analysis or protocol. Forexample, one may use the results of a first analysis or protocol incarrying out a second protocols and/or one may use the results of afirst analysis or protocol to determine whether a second analysis orprotocol should be performed. With respect to the embodiment ofautoantibody detection, one may use the results of the detectionanalysis or protocol to determine whether a specific therapeutic regimenshould be performed.

The word “label” when used herein refers to a compound or compositionwhich is conjugated or fused directly or indirectly to a reagent such asa nucleic acid probe or an antibody and facilitates detection of thereagent to which it is conjugated or fused. The label may itself bedetectable (e.g., radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels) or, in thecase of an enzymatic label, may catalyze chemical alteration of asubstrate compound or composition which is detectable.

An “isolated” polypeptide is one that has been identified and separatedand/or recovered from contaminant components of its natural environment.Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials thatwould interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide,and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous ornonproteinaceous solutes. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide willbe purified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of polypeptide asdetermined by the Lowry method, or more than 99% by weight, (2) to adegree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal orinternal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (3)to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or nonreducing conditionsusing Coomassie blue, or silver stain. Isolated polypeptide includes thepolypeptide in situ within recombinant cells since at least onecontaminant component of the polypeptide's natural environment will notbe present. Ordinarily, however, isolated polypeptide will be preparedby at least one purification step.

The term “percent (%) amino acid sequence identify” with respect to amoesin domain or fragment of the present application is defined as thepercentage of amino acid residues in a sequence of interest that areidentical with the amino acid residues in the moesin domain or fragment,after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, toachieve the maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering anyconservative amino acid substitutions as part of the sequence identity.Alignment for purposes of determining percent amino acid sequenceidentity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill inthe art, for instance, using publicly available computer software suchas BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. See, forexample, Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1997);Altschul et al., Methods in Enzymology 266:460-480 (1996). Those skilledin the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment,including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over thefull length of the sequences being compared.

The term “antibody” is used in the broadest sense and specificallycovers monoclonal antibodies (including full length or intact monoclonalantibodies), polyclonal antibodies, multivalent antibodies,multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies) formed from atleast two intact antibodies, and antibody fragments so long as theyexhibit the desired antigen binding activity.

“Treatment” refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic orpreventative measures. Those in need of treatment include those alreadywith the disorder as well as those in which the disorder is to beprevented.

Responsiveness of a patient can be assessed using any endpointindicating a benefit to the patient, including, without limitation, (1)inhibition, to some extent, of disease progression, including slowingdown and complete arrest; (2) reduction in the number of diseaseepisodes and/or symptoms; (3) reduction in lesion size; (4) inhibition(i.e., reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) of disease cellinfiltration into adjacent peripheral organs and/or tissues; (5)inhibition (i.e. reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) ofdisease spread; (6) relief, to some extent, of one or more symptomsassociated with the disorder; (7) increase in the length of disease-freepresentation following treatment; (8) decrease of auto-immune response,which may, but does not have to, result in the regression or ablation ofthe disease lesion, e.g., progression-free survival; (9) increasedoverall survival; (10) higher response rate; and/or (11) decreasedmortality at a given point of time following treatment.

The term “benefit” is used in the broadest sense and refers to anydesirable effect and specifically includes clinical benefit.

Typical Methods and Materials of the Invention

The present application provides compositions and methods for diagnosingand monitoring autoimmune disorders associated with the presence andtiter of anti-moesin autoantibodies. Conventional methods known to theskilled in the art can be used to carry out the present application.

Vectors, Host Cells and Recombinant Methods

The polypeptides of the present application can be producedrecombinantly, using techniques and materials readily obtainable. Forrecombinant production of a polypeptide of the present application,e.g., a protein of the present application, an antibody of a protein ofthe present application, the nucleic acid encoding it is isolated andinserted into a replicable vector for further cloning (amplification ofthe DNA) or for expression. DNA encoding the polypeptide of the presentapplication is readily isolated and sequenced using conventionalprocedures. For example, a DNA encoding a human moesin protein isisolated and sequenced, e.g., by using oligonucleotide probes that arecapable of binding specifically to genes encoding the protein. Manyvectors are available. The vector components generally include, but arenot limited to, one or more of the following: a signal sequence, anorigin of replication, one or more selection genes, an enhancer element,a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence.

Signal Sequence Component

Polypeptides of the present application may be produced recombinantlynot only directly, but also as a fusion polypeptide with a heterologouspolypeptide, which is typically a signal sequence or other polypeptidehaving a specific cleavage site at the N-terminus of the mature proteinor polypeptide. The heterologous signal sequence selected typically isone that is recognized and processed (i.e., cleaved by a signalpeptidase) by the host cell. For prokaryotic host cells, the signalsequence can be a prokaryotic signal sequence selected, for example,from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, 1 pp, orheat-stable enterotoxin II leaders. For yeast secretion the nativesignal sequence may be, e.g., the yeast invertase leader, α factorleader (including Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces α-factor leaders), oracid phosphatase leader, the C. albicans glucoamylase leader, or thesignal described in WO 90/13646. In mammalian cell expression, mammaliansignal sequences as well as viral secretory leaders, for example, theherpes simplex gD signal, are available.

The DNA for such precursor region is ligated in reading frame to DNAencoding the polypeptide of the present application.

Origin of Replication Component

Both expression and cloning vectors contain a nucleic acid sequence thatenables the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells.Generally, in cloning vectors this sequence is one that enables thevector to replicate independently of the host chromosomal DNA, andincludes origins of replication or autonomously replicating sequences.Such sequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, andviruses. The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitablefor most Gram-negative bacteria, the 2μ plasmid origin is suitable foryeast, and various viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV)are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells. Generally, the originof replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors(the SV40 origin may typically be used only because it contains theearly promoter).

Selection Gene Component

Expression and cloning vectors may contain a selection gene, also termeda selectable marker. Typical selection genes encode proteins that (a)confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g., ampicillin,neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline, (b) complement auxotrophicdeficiencies, or (c) supply critical nutrients not available fromcomplex media, e.g., the gene encoding D-alanine racemase for Bacilli.

One example of a selection scheme utilizes a drug to arrest growth of ahost cell. Those cells that are successfully transformed with aheterologous gene produce a protein conferring drug resistance and thussurvive the selection regimen. Examples of such dominant selection usethe drugs neomycin, mycophenolic acid and hygromycin.

Another example of suitable selectable markers for mammalian cells arethose that enable the identification of cells competent to take upnucleic acid, such as DHFR, thymidine kinase, metallothionein-I and -II,typically primate metallothionein genes, adenosine deaminase, ornithinedecarboxylase, etc.

For example, cells transformed with the DHFR selection gene are firstidentified by culturing all of the transformants in a culture mediumthat contains methotrexate (Mtx), a competitive antagonist of DHFR. Anappropriate host cell when wild-type DHFR is employed is the Chinesehamster ovary (CHO) cell line deficient in DHFR activity.

Alternatively, host cells (particularly wild-type hosts that containendogenous DHFR) transformed or co-transformed with DNA sequencesencoding a polypeptide of the present application, wild-type DHFRprotein, and another selectable marker such as aminoglycoside3′-phosphotransferase (APH) can be selected by cell growth in mediumcontaining a selection agent for the selectable marker such as anaminoglycosidic antibiotic, e.g., kanamycin, neomycin, or G418. See U.S.Pat. No. 4,965,199.

A suitable selection gene for use in yeast is the trp1 gene present inthe yeast plasmid Yrp7 (Stinchcomb et al., Nature, 282:39 (1979)). Thetrp1 gene provides a selection marker for a mutant strain of yeastlacking the ability to grow in tryptophan, for example, ATCC No. 44076or PEP4-1. Jones, Genetics, 85:12 (1977). The presence of the trp1lesion in the yeast host cell genome then provides an effectiveenvironment for detecting transformation by growth in the absence oftryptophan. Similarly, Leu2-deficient yeast strains (ATCC 20,622 or38,626) are complemented by known plasmids bearing the Leu2 gene.

Promoter Component

Expression and cloning vectors usually contain a promoter that isrecognized by the host organism and is operably linked to a nucleic acidencoding a polypeptide of the present application. Promoters suitablefor use with prokaryotic hosts include the phoA promoter, β-lactamaseand lactose promoter systems, alkaline phosphatase, a tryptophan (trp)promoter system, and hybrid promoters such as the tac promoter. However,other known bacterial promoters are suitable. Promoters for use inbacterial systems also will contain a Shine-Dalgarno (S.D.) sequenceoperably linked to the DNA encoding the polypeptide of the presentapplication.

Promoter sequences are known for eukaryotes. Virtually all eukaryoticgenes have an AT-rich region located approximately 25 to 30 basesupstream from the site where transcription is initiated. Anothersequence found 70 to 80 bases upstream from the start of transcriptionof many genes is a CNCAAT region where N may be any nucleotide. At the3′ end of most eukaryotic genes is an AATAAA sequence that may be thesignal for addition of the poly A tail to the 3′ end of the codingsequence. All of these sequences are suitably inserted into eukaryoticexpression vectors.

Examples of suitable promoting sequences for use with yeast hostsinclude the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or other glycolyticenzymes, such as enolase, glyceraldyhyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase,glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvatekinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, andglucokinase.

Other yeast promoters, which are inducible promoters having theadditional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions,are the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C,acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogenmetabolism, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Suitablevectors and promoters for use in yeast expression are further describedin EP 73,657. Yeast enhancers also are advantageously used with yeastpromoters.

Transcription of polypeptides of the present application from vectors inmammalian host cells is controlled, for example, by promoters obtainedfrom the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus,adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcomavirus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and Simian Virus40 (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g., the actinpromoter or an immunoglobulin promoter, from heat-shock promoters,provided such promoters are compatible with the host cell systems.

The early and late promoters of the SV40 virus are conveniently obtainedas an SV40 restriction fragment that also contains the SV40 viral originof replication. The immediate early promoter of the humancytomegalovirus is conveniently obtained as a HindIII E restrictionfragment. A system for expressing DNA in mammalian hosts using thebovine papilloma virus as a vector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,419,446. A modification of this system is described in U.S. Pat. No.4,601,978. See also Reyes et al., Nature 297:598-601 (1982) onexpression of human β-interferon cDNA in mouse cells under the controlof a thymidine kinase promoter from herpes simplex virus. Alternatively,the rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat can be used as the promoter.

Enhancer Element Component

Transcription of a DNA encoding a polypeptide of this invention byhigher eukaryotes is often increased by inserting an enhancer sequenceinto the vector. Many enhancer sequences are now known from mammaliangenes (globin, elastase, albumin, α-fetoprotein, and insulin).Typically, one will use an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus.Examples include the SV40 enhancer on the late side of the replicationorigin (bp 100-270), the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, thepolyoma enhancer on the late side of the replication origin, andadenovirus enhancers. See also Yaniv, Nature 297:17-18 (1982) onenhancing elements for activation of eukaryotic promoters. The enhancermay be spliced into the vector at a position 5′ or 3′ to thepolypeptide-encoding sequence, but is typically located at a site 5′from the promoter.

Transcription Termination Component

Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells (yeast, fungi, insect,plant, animal, human, or nucleated cells from other multicellularorganisms) will also contain sequences necessary for the termination oftranscription and for stabilizing the mRNA. Such sequences are commonlyavailable from the 5′ and, occasionally 3′, untranslated regions ofeukaryotic or viral DNAs or cDNAs. These regions contain nucleotidesegments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the untranslatedportion of the mRNA encoding the polypeptide of the present application.One useful transcription termination component is the bovine growthhormone polyadenylation region. See WO94/11026 and the expression vectordisclosed therein.

Selection and Transformation of Host Cells

Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing DNA encoding thepolypeptides of the present application in the vectors herein are theprokaryote, yeast, or higher eukaryote cells described above. Suitableprokaryotes for this purpose include eubacteria, such as Gram-negativeor Gram-positive organisms, for example, Enterobacteriaceae such asEscherichia, e.g., E. coli, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Klebsiella, Proteus,Salmonella, e.g., Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia, e.g., Serratiamarcescans, and Shigella, as well as Bacilli such as B. subtilis and B.licheniformis (e.g., B. licheniformis 41P disclosed in DD 266,710published 12 Apr. 1989), Pseudomonas such as P. aeruginosa, andStreptomyces. Typically, the E. coli cloning host is E. coli 294 (ATCC31,446), although other strains such as E. coli B, E. coli BL21(DE3), E.coli X1776 (ATCC 31,537), and E. coli W3110 (ATCC 27,325) are suitable.These examples are illustrative rather than limiting.

In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes such as filamentousfungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts for vectorsencoding for polypeptide of the present application-encoding vectors.Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or common baker's yeast, is the most commonlyused among lower eukaryotic host microorganisms. However, a number ofother genera, species, and strains are commonly available and usefulherein, such as Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Kluyveromyces hosts such as,e.g., K. lactis, K. fragilis (ATCC 12,424), K. bulgaricus (ATCC 16,045),K. wickeramii (ATCC 24,178), K. waltii (ATCC 56,500), K. drosophilarum(ATCC 36,906), K. thermotolerans, and K. marxianus; yarrowia (EP402,226); Pichia pastoris (EP 183,070); Candida; Trichoderma reesia (EP244,234); Neurospora crassa; Schwanniomyces such as Schwanniomycesoccidentalis; and filamentous fungi such as, e.g., Neurospora,Penicillium, Tolypocladium, and Aspergillus hosts such as A. nidulansand A. niger.

Suitable host cells for the expression of polypeptides of the presentapplication can be derived from multicellular organisms. Examples ofinvertebrate cells include plant and insect cells. Numerous baculoviralstrains and variants and corresponding permissive insect host cells fromhosts such as Spodoptera frugiperda (caterpillar), Aedes aegypti(mosquito), Aedes albopictus (mosquito), Drosophila melanogaster(fruitfly), and Bombyx mori have been identified. A variety of viralstrains for transfection are publicly available, e.g., the L-1 variantof Autographa californica NPV and the Bm-5 strain of Bombyx mori NPV,and such viruses may be used as the virus herein according to thepresent application, particularly for transfection of Spodopterafrugiperda cells. Plant cell cultures of cotton, corn, potato, soybean,petunia, tomato, and tobacco can also be utilized as hosts.

However, interest has been greatest in vertebrate cells, and propagationof vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a routineprocedure. Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are monkeykidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651); humanembryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subcloned for growth insuspension culture, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol. 36:59 (1977)); babyhamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL 10); Chinese hamster ovarycells/−DHFR (CHO, Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4216(1980)); mouse sertoli cells (TM4, Mather, Biol. Reprod. 23:243-251(1980)); monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkeykidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC CRL-1587); human cervical carcinoma cells(HELA, ATCC CCL 2); canine kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL 34); buffalo ratliver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442); human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL75); human liver cells (Hep G2, HB 8065); mouse mammary tumor (MMT060562, ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci.383:44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and a human hepatoma line(Hep G2).

Host cells are transformed with the above-described expression orcloning vectors for production of polypeptide of the present applicationand cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate forinducing promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the genesencoding the desired sequences.

Culturing the Host Cells

The host cells used to produce polypeptides of the present applicationmay be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially available media suchas Ham's F10 (Sigma), Minimal Essential Medium ((MEM), (Sigma),RPMI-1640 (Sigma), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium ((DMEM),Sigma) are suitable for culturing the host cells. In addition, any ofthe media described in Ham et al., Meth. Enz. 58:44 (1979), Barnes etal., Anal. Biochem. 102:255 (1980), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,767,704; 4,657,866;4,927,762; 4,560,655; or 5,122,469; WO 90/03430; WO 87/00195; or U.S.Pat. Re. 30,985 may be used as culture media for the host cells. Any ofthese media may be supplemented as necessary with hormones and/or othergrowth factors (such as insulin, transferrin, or epidermal growthfactor), salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium, andphosphate), buffers (such as HEPES), nucleotides (such as adenosine andthymidine), antibiotics (such as GENTAMYCIN™drug), trace elements(defined as inorganic compounds usually present at final concentrationsin the micromolar range), and glucose or an equivalent energy source.Any other necessary supplements may also be included at appropriateconcentrations that would be known to those skilled in the art. Theculture conditions, such as temperature, pH, and the like, are thosepreviously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will beapparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

Chemical Synthesis of Peptides

The peptides of the present application can also be produced by chemicalsynthesis, for example, the solid phase synthesis method described byMerrifield in J.A.C.S. 85: 2149-2154 (1963) and the variations thereof,or otherwise the standard solution synthesis method described in“Peptide Synthesis” by Bodanszky, et al, second edition, John Wiley andSons, 1976 and the variations thereof. These publications are entirelyincorporated herein by reference.

Briefly, synthesis of a peptide by using solid phase synthesis methodinvolves initially attaching the protected C-terminal amino acid of thepeptide to the resin. After attachment the resin is filtered, washed andthe protecting group (e.g. t-butyloxycarbonyl) on the alpha amino groupof the C-terminal amino acid is removed. The removal of this protectinggroup must take place, of course, without breaking the bond between thatamino acid and the resin. To the resulting resin peptide is then coupledthe penultimate C-terminal protected amino acid. This coupling takesplace by the formation of an amide bond between the free carboxy groupof the second amino acid and the amino group of the first amino acidattached to the resin. This sequence of events is repeated withsuccessive amino acids until all amino acids of the peptide are attachedto the resin. Finally, the protected peptide is cleaved from the resinand the protecting groups removed to obtain the desired peptide. Thecleavage techniques used to separate the peptide from the resin and toremove the protecting groups depend upon the selection of resin andprotecting groups and are known to those familiar with the art ofpeptide synthesis.

The resin mentioned above may be any suitable polymer and shall containa functional group to which the first protected amino acid can be firmlylinked by a covalent bond. Various polymers are suitable for thispurpose, such as cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethylmethacrylate,and polystyrene. Appropriate protecting groups usable in solid phasesynthesis include t-butyloxycarbonyl (BOC), benzyl (BZL),t-amyloxycarbonyl (AOC), tosyl (TOS), o-bromophenylmethoxycarbonyl(BrZ),2,6-dichlorobenzyl (BZLC1.sub.2), and phenylmethoxycarbonyl (Z orCBZ). Additional protecting groups are also described in J. F. W.McOmie, “Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry”, Plenum Press, NewYork, 1973. This book is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

The standard solution synthesis method can be performed by eitherstepwise or block coupling of amino acids or peptide fragments usingchemical or enzymatic methods of amide bond formation. These solutionsynthesis methods are well known in the art.

Polypeptide Purification

A polypeptide or protein of the present application may be recoveredfrom a subject. When using recombinant techniques, a polypeptide of thepresent application can be produced intracellularly, in the periplasmicspace, or directly secreted into the medium. Polypeptides of the presentapplication may be recovered from culture medium or from host celllysates. If membrane-bound, it can be released from the membrane using asuitable detergent solution (e.g. Triton-X 100) or by enzymaticcleavage. Cells employed in expression of a polypeptide of the presentapplication can be disrupted by various physical or chemical means, suchas freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or celllysing agents.

If a peptide is chemically synthesized, the peptide of the presentapplication may be recovered from the reaction medium by any suitabletechniques capable of separating peptide of interest from othercomponents in the medium. For a solid phase synthesis, the protectedpeptide is firstly cleaved off the resin using a suitable cleavingsolution. The selection of cleaving solution depends upon the propertiesof the resin and the amino acid bound thereto (such as trifluoroaceticacid for FMOC method). Cleaving is usually carried out under acidcondition. Upon completion of cleaving, a dissociative peptide is thenobtained and further purified using any suitable techniques (such as themethods described below).

The following procedures are exemplary of suitable protein purificationprocedures: by fractionation on an ion-exchange column; ethanolprecipitation; reverse phase HPLC; chromatography on silica,chromatography on heparin SEPHAROSE™ chromatography on an anion orcation exchange resin (such as a polyaspartic acid column, DEAE, etc.);chromatofocusing; SDS-PAGE; ammonium sulfate precipitation; gelfiltration using, for example, SEPHADEX G-75; protein A SEPHAROSEcolumns to remove contaminants such as IgG; and metal chelating columnsto bind epitope-tagged forms of polypeptides of the present application.Various methods of protein purification may be employed and such methodsare known in the art and described for example in Deutscher, Methods inEnzymology, 182 (1990); Scopes, Protein Purification: Principles andPractice, Springer-Verlag, New York (1982). The purification step(s)selected will depend, for example, on the nature of the productionprocess used and the particular polypeptide of the present applicationproduced.

Detection Methods

In the methods of the present application, a biological sample isobtained from a subject suspected of having autoimmune disorder andexamined for expression of one or more anti-moesin autoantibodies.Expression of various anti-moesin autoantibodies in a sample can beanalyzed by a number of methodologies, many of which are known in theart and understood by the skilled artisan, including but not limited to,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), enzyme-linked immuno-flowassay (ELIFA), immunoblotting, Western blot analysis,immunohistochemical analysis, immunoprecipitation, molecular bindingassays and the like. Multiplexed immunoassays such as those availablefrom Rules Based Medicine or Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) may also beused. These methods include both single-site and two-site or “sandwich”assays of the non-competitive types, as well as in the traditionalcompetitive binding assays. Detection can be conducted in vitro, in vivoor ex vivo.

Sandwich assays are among the most useful and commonly used assays. Anumber of variations of the sandwich assay technique exist, and all areintended to be encompassed by the present application. Briefly, in atypical forward sandwich assay, an unlabelled capture reagent (e.g., amoesin fragment) is immobilized on a solid substrate, and the sample tobe tested for the target protein (e.g., an anti-moesin autoantibody) isbrought into contact with the bound molecule. After a suitable period ofincubation, for a period of time sufficient to allow formation of anantibody-antigen complex, a detection antibody specific to the targetprotein (e.g. through binding to the Fc region of the anti-moesinautoantibody), labelled with a reporter molecule capable of producing adetectable signal is then added and incubated, allowing time sufficientfor the formation of another complex of capture reagent-targetprotein-detection antibody. Any unreacted material is washed away, andthe presence of the target protein is determined by observation of asignal produced by the reporter molecule. The results may either bequalitative, by simple observation of the visible signal, or may bequantitated by comparing with a control sample containing known amountsof the reporter molecule.

In a typical forward sandwich assay, a capture reagent havingspecificity for the target protein is either covalently or passivelybound to a solid support. The solid support is typically glass or apolymer, the most commonly used polymers being cellulose,polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene.The solid supports may be in the form of tubes, beads, discs ofmicroplates, or any other support suitable for conducting animmunoassay.

Variations on the forward assay include a simultaneous assay, in whichboth sample and detection antibody are added simultaneously to thecapture reagent. These techniques are well known to those skilled in theart, including any minor variations as will be readily apparent. Anotheralternative method involves immobilizing the target protein in thesample and then exposing the immobilized target proteins to the peptidesof the present application which may or may not be labeled with areporter molecule. Depending on the amount of target protein and thestrength of the reporter molecule signal, a bound target protein may bedetectable by direct labeling with the capture reagent (e.g. moesinfragment). Alternatively, a second detection antibody, specific to thecapture reagent is exposed to the target protein-capture reagent complexto form a target protein-capture reagent-detection antibody tertiarycomplex. The complex is detected by the signal emitted by the reportermolecule.

The term “reporter molecule”, as used herein, is meant a molecule which,by its chemical nature, provides an analytically identifiable signalwhich allows the detection of antigen-bound antibody. The most commonlyused reporter molecules in this type of assay are either enzymes,fluorophores or radionuclide containing molecules (i.e. radioisotopes)and chemiluminescent molecules.

In certain embodiments, the reporter molecules are enzymes conjugated tothe detection antibodies. The enzyme generally catalyzes a chemicalalteration of the chromogenic substrate that can be measured usingvarious techniques. For example, the enzyme may catalyze a color changein a substrate, which can be measured spectrophotometrically.Alternatively, the enzyme may alter the fluorescence orchemiluminescence of the substrate. When activated by illumination withlight of a particular wavelength, the fluorochrome adsorbs the lightenergy, inducing a state to excitability in the molecule, followed byemission of the light at a characteristic color visually detectable witha light microscope. The chemiluminescent substrate becomeselectronically excited by a chemical reaction and may then emit lightwhich can be measured (using a chemiluminometer, for example) or donatesenergy to a fluorescent acceptor. Examples of enzymatic labels includeluciferases (e.g., firefly luciferase and bacterial luciferase; U.S.Pat. No. 4,737,456), luciferin, 2,3-dihydrophthalazinediones, malatedehydrogenase, urease, peroxidase such as horseradish peroxidase (HRPO),alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, glucoamylase, lysozyme,saccharide oxidases (e.g., glucose oxidase, galactose oxidase, andglucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), heterocyclic oxidases (such asuricase and xanthine oxidase), lactoperoxidase, microperoxidase, and thelike. Techniques for conjugating enzymes to antibodies are described inO'Sullivan et ah, Methods for the Preparation of Enzyme-AntibodyConjugates for use in Enzyme Immunoassay, in Methods in Enzym. (ed. J.Langone & H. Van Vunakis), Academic press, New York, 73:147-166 (1981).

Examples of enzyme-substrate combinations include, for example: (i)Horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) with hydrogen peroxidase as a substrate,wherein the hydrogen peroxidase oxidizes a dye precursor (e.g.,orthophenylene diamine (OPD) or 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl benzidinehydrochloride (TMB)); (ii) alkaline phosphatase (AP) withpara-Nitrophenyl phosphate as chromogenic substrate; and (iii)β-D-galactosidase (β-D-Gal) with a chromogenic substrate (e.g.,p-nitrophenyl-(β-D-galactosidase) or fluorogenic substrate (e.g.,4-methylumbelliferyl-(β-D-galactosidase). Numerous otherenzyme-substrate combinations are available to those skilled in the art.For a general review of these, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,275,149 and4,318,980.

In certain embodiments, the reporter molecules are fluorophoresincluding, but are not limited to, rare earth chelates (europiumchelates), TEXAS RED, rhodamine, fluorescein, dansyl, LISSAMINE,umbelliferone, phycocrytherin, phycocyanin, or commercially availablefluorophores such SPECTRUM ORANGE7 and SPECTRUM GREEN7 and/orderivatives of any one or more of the above. The fluorophores can beconjugated to the antibody using the techniques disclosed in CurrentProtocols in Immunology, Volumes 1 and 2, Coligen et al, Ed.Wiley-Interscience, New York, Pubs. (1991), for example. Fluorescencecan be quantified using a fluorimeter.

In certain embodiments, the report molecules are radioisotopes, such as³⁵S, ¹⁴C, ¹²⁵I, ³H, and ¹³¹I. The detection antibody or capture reagentcan be labeled with the radioisotope using the techniques described inCurrent Protocols in Immunology, supra, for example and radioactivitycan be measured using scintillation counting.

Sometimes, the label is indirectly conjugated with the detectionantibody or capture reagent. The skilled artisan will be aware ofvarious techniques for achieving this. For example, the detectionantibody can be conjugated with biotin and the label can be conjugatedwith avidin, or vice versa. Biotin binds selectively to avidin and thus,the label can be conjugated with the detection antibody in this indirectmanner. Alternatively, to achieve indirect conjugation of the label withthe detection antibody, the detection antibody is conjugated with asmall hapten and the label is conjugated with an anti-hapten antibody.Thus, indirect conjugation of the label with the antibody can beachieved.

In certain embodiments, the detection method is a competitive bindingassay in which a competing anti-moesin antibody is used. Such competingantibody is capable of competing with moesin auto-antibodies for bindingto the peptides of the present application. In a competitive bindingassay, the reduction of binding signals can be indicative of theexistence and titer of the corresponding auto-antibodies.

Diagnostic Kits

For use in the applications described or suggested above, kits orarticles of manufacture are also provided by the present application.Such kits may comprise a carrier means being compartmentalized toreceive in close confinement one or more container means such as vials,tubes, and the like, each of the container means comprising one of theseparate elements to be used in the method. For example, one of thecontainer means may comprise a probe that is or can be detectablylabeled. Such probe may be a moesin fragment specific for anti-moesinautoantibody.

The kits of the present application will typically comprise thecontainer described above and one or more other containers comprisingmaterials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, includingbuffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts withinstructions for use. A label may be present on the container toindicate that the composition is used for a specific therapy ornon-therapeutic application, and may also indicate directions for eitherin vivo or in vitro use, such as those described above.

The kits of the present application have a number of embodiments. Atypical embodiment is a kit comprising a container, a label on saidcontainer, and a composition contained within said container; whereinthe composition includes a peptide of the present application that canbind to an anti-moesin autoantibody, the label on said containerindicates that the composition can be used to evaluate the presence ofanti-moesin autoantibodies in a sample, and instructions for using thepeptide of the present application for evaluating the presence ofanti-moesin autoantibodies in a sample. The kit can further comprise aset of instructions and materials for preparing a tissue sample andapplying the peptide of the present application to the sample. The kitmay include a secondary antibody, wherein the secondary antibody isconjugated to a label, e.g., an enzymatic label.

Other optional components in the kit include one or more buffers (e.g.,block buffer, wash buffer, substrate buffer, etc), other reagents suchas substrate (e.g., chromogen) which is chemically altered by anenzymatic label, epitope retrieval solution, control samples (positiveand/or negative controls), control slide(s) etc.

The following are examples of the methods and compositions of thepresent application. It is understood that various other embodiments maybe practiced, given the general description provided above.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Generation of Moesin Fragment Series

The following five moesin fragments are produced:

-   a. Moesin-1, containing amino acids 1-297 of human moesin protein    (SEQ ID NO:2), near N-terminal domain of the human moesin protein;-   b. Moesin-2, containing amino acids 298-577 of human moesin protein    (SEQ ID NO:3), near the helical and C-terminal tail domains of the    human moesin protein;-   c. Moesin-3, containing amino acids 298-470 of human moesin protein    (SEQ ID NO:4), near the helical domain of the human moesin protein;-   d. Moesin-4, containing amino acids 471-577 of human moesin protein    (SEQ ID NO:5), near the C-terminal tail domain of the human moesin    protein; and-   e. Moesin-5: full length human moesin protein, amino acid 1-577 (SEQ    ID NO:1).

The full length Moesin cDNA sequence (1-1743 bp) was obtained fromGenebank (Accession No. M69066) and shown in FIG. 3. To generate theabove moesin fragments, PCR was used to amplify cDNA fragmentscorresponding to different amino acid fragments as described above.

PCR-amplified moesin DNA fragments were cloned into expression vectorsselected from pET32a(+) and pET28a(+). The constructed vectors were thenused to transform E. coli host cell line BL21(DE3) for culturing andexpression. The restriction and cloning maps of pET32a(+) and pET28a(+)are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. The constructed expressionsystems for various moesin fragments were verified with restrictionenzyme digestion followed by sequencing to confirm the correct readingframe for expression of moesin fragments.

After sufficient culturing, host cells with expressed moesin fragmentswere harvested for collection and purification of moesin fragmentsaccording to standard protein expression protocols. The resultingprotein fragments were assayed with SDS-PAGE to confirm their identityand purity.

Example 2 Detection and Measurement of Specific Anti-MoesinAutoantibodies in Sera of Patients with Autoimmune Disorders

Sera or plasma samples were collected from patients with various stagesof autoimmune diseases and tested for the presence of anti-moesinautoantibodies that recognize and bind to specific regions of the moesinprotein. Patients' profiles and clinical information were used tocategorize them based on types and stages of their diseases.

Moesin fragments obtained from Example 1 were used as antigens in ELISAassays for anti-moesin antibodies. Specifically, each micro well of theELISA plate was coated with about 400 ng of moesin fragment at 2° C. to8° C. for 12-16 hours, and then washed with PBS once before beingblocked with blocking solution and vacuum dried for storage and lateruse. So a highly purified moesin fragment antigen was bound to the wellsof a polystyrene microwell plate under conditions that would preservethe antigen in its native state.

Sera samples were collected and prepared from 6 different patient groupsand 3 control groups for later ELISA testing. The patients in thepatient groups all suffered from immune disorders, including 300patients that were clinically diagnosed with CTD, 50 patients that wereclinically diagnosed with Systemic Sclerosis, 70 patients that wereclinically diagnosed with PAH, 300 patients that were clinicallydiagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, 80 patients that were clinicallydiagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and 45 patients that wereclinically diagnosed with acquired aplastic anemia. The 3 control groupsin which the individuals were either healthy or suffered from anon-immune disease included 83 patients that were clinically diagnosedwith lung diseases (Control-1), 65 patients that were clinicallydiagnosed as tumor (Control-2), and 150 healthy donors (Control-3).

The controls and patient sera were diluted using PBS-T buffer (i.e. PBSbuffer containing 0.05% (v/v) of TWEEN-20), and 100 μl of such dilutedcontrols and diluted patient sera were then added to each well, allowingany anti-moesin antibodies present to bind to the immobilized antigen.Unbound sample was washed away using PBS-T buffer and an enzyme labeledanti-human IgG conjugate was added to each well. A second incubationallowed the enzyme labeled anti-human IgG to bind to any anti-moesinantibodies which have become attached to the micro wells. After washingaway any unbound enzyme labeled anti-human IgG, the remaining enzymeactivity was measured by adding a chromogenic substrate(H₂O₂/TMB) andmeasuring the intensity of the color that develops. 100 μl of HRP StopSolution (e.g., 2M H₂SO₄) were then added to each well. Sequence andtiming of adding and maintaining HRP Stop Solution were according to TMBChromogen. Each ELISA plate was gently tapped with fingers to thoroughlymix the wells.

The assay was evaluated using a spectrophotometer to measure and comparethe color intensity that developed in the patient wells with the colorin the control wells. Specifically, bichromatic measurements are used tomeasure and compare the color intensity, wherein both OD₄₅₀ value andOD₆₃₀ value (as a reference) of each well were read within 15 mins ofstopping the reaction. The OD value of each test or control sample wascalculated by subtracting the OD₄₅₀ value with the OD₆₃₀ value.

The ELISA low positive control, the ELISA high positive control and theELISA negative control were run with every batch of samples to ensurethat all reagents and procedures performed properly. The ELISA negativecontrol was sera collected from healthy individuals. The OD values ofsera collected from 50 healthy individuals were each measured and theaverage OD value (the “Control OD Value”) and the standard deviation(the “Control Standard Deviation”) from those 50 samples werecalculated. Such Control OD Value and Control Standard Deviation wereused to determine the concentrations of the ELISA low positive controland high positive control. The ELISA low positive control contains serafrom patients with immune thrombocytopenia that were diluted enough toshow an OD value which equals to the Control OD Value plus three timesof the Control Standard Deviation. The ELISA high positive controlcontains sera from patients with immune thrombocytopenia that wasdiluted to show an OD value which equals to three times of the OD valueof the ELISA low positive control. The dilution was done using 0.01MPBS-T buffer.

The average OD value for each set of duplicates of a sample was firstdetermined and used as the titer of the sample, and the sample wasdetermined positive if its average OD value was higher than the averageOD value of the ELISA low positive control (as shown in Table 1).

As the skilled artisan will appreciate, the step of correlating a markerlevel to the presence or absence of specified diseases can be performedand achieved in different ways. In general a reference population isselected and a normal range established. It is fairly routine toestablish the normal range for anti-moesin antibodies using anappropriate reference population. It is generally accepted that thenormal range depends, to a certain but limited extent, on the referencepopulation in which it is established. In one aspect, the referencepopulation is high in number, e.g., hundreds to thousands, and matchedfor age, gender and optionally other variables of interest. The normalrange in terms of absolute values, like a concentration given, alsodepends on the assay employed and the standardization used in producingthe assay.

The levels for anti-moesin antibodies can be measured and establishedwith the assay procedures given in the examples section. It has to beunderstood that different assays may lead to different cut-off values.

The clinical performance of a laboratory test depends on its diagnosticaccuracy, or the ability to correctly classify subjects into clinicallyrelevant subgroups. Diagnostic accuracy measures the test's ability tocorrectly distinguish different conditions of the subjects investigated.Such conditions are for example health and disease or benign versusmalignant disease. That is, a significant higher value obtained fromcertain patient population indicates the positive presence of thecorresponding anti-moesin autoantibody.

The results of the experiments are listed in the following tablecomparing various patient groups for the positive presences of differentanti-moesin antibodies specific to certain moesin fragments (Table 1):

TABLE 1 Comparison of the Positive Presence of Anti-moesin Autoantibodyto Specific Moesin Fragments in Sera of Patient Groups and Control GroupNumber of Anti-Each Moesin Fragment positive Patient Group PatientsMoesin 1 Moesin 3 Moesin 4 Moesin 2 Control-1 (lung 83 5 (6.0%) 14(16.9%) 10 (12.0%) 11 (13.3%) diseases: including pneumonia, phthisis)Control-2 (tumor: 65 1 (1.5%) 0 (0) 1 (1.5%) 1 (1.5%) including lungcancer, breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma) Control-3 (healthy 150 2(1.3%) 3 (2.0%) 4 (2.7%) 3 (2.0%) donors) CTD 300 122 (40.7%) 41 (13.7%)39 (13.0%) 45 (15.0%) Systemic Sclerosis 50 15 (30.0%) 12 (24.0%) 10(20.0%) 14 (28.0%) PAH 70 8 (11.4%) 25 (35.7%) 23 (32.9%) 17 (24.3%)Sjogren's Syndrome 300 136 (45.3%) 54 (18.0%) 71 (23.7%) 66 (22.0%)Rheumatoid Arthritis 80 3 (3.8%) 7 (8.8%) 6 (7.5%) 10 (12.5%) AcquiredAplastic 45 1 (2.2%) 1 (2.2%) 19 (42.2%) 18 (40.0%) Anemia)

As shown in Table 1, the higher than normal presence (i.e. positiverate) of anti-moesin autoantibodies that specifically recognize and bindto the N-terminal FERM domain of moesin (Moesin-1) is significantlycorrelated with the incidence of CTD (about 41%). It indicates that thatmoesin fragments comprising amino acids of Moesin-1 can be used asdiagnostic or prognostic markers for identifying patients having orsuspected of having CTD.

Autoantibody titers for different moesin fragments were also measured incontrols and different disease groups. Table 2 lists the mean titers andstandard deviation of autoantibodies to specific moesin fragments insera of Sjogren's syndrome patients.

TABLE 2 Titers of Autoantibody to Specific Moesin Fragments in Sera ofSjogren's Syndrome Patients (300 Patients) Moesin 1 Moesin 3 Moesin 4Moesin 2 Moesin 5 Mean Titer 0.219133333 0.406857143 0.31606250.280133333 0.252886364 (x) STD 0.050839587 0.178707796 0.1484531210.114615423 0.10121982

As shown in Table 2, autoantibodies specific to the helical domain ofmoesin (Moesin-3) has the highest titer, followed closely by theC-terminal tail domain (Moesin-4). Statistic analysis of the data inTable 2 shows that the mean titers of the moesin fragments havesignificant statistical difference. See the results in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Statistic Significance of Difference between Autoantibody Titersin Table 2 Mean Titer Value Comparison (t test) Moesin-3 Moesin-4Moesin-2 Moesin-5 Moesin-1 significant significant significantsignificant Moesin-3 / significant significant significant Moesin-4 / /no difference significant Moesin-2 / / / no difference

Therefore, moesin fragments comprising amino acids of either the helicalor the tail domain, or both, of moesin can be used as diagnostic orprognostic markers for identifying patients having or suspected ofhaving Sjogren's Syndrome.

Similar analysis of domain-specific autoantibodies in terms of theirpercentage of presence in patients and their levels have been conductedfor other disease groups.

Example 3 Correlation of Autoantibody Levels with Disease Types andDisease States

The autoantibody data obtained from existing patients with autoimmunedisease and various control groups are used individually as referencedata points or collectively to establish reference databases. Thesesreference data are then used to establish the correlation ofpresence/level of autoantibodies in a test sample with particularautoimmune disease and their disease states associated with theindividual subject from whom the test sample is obtained. Detection andmeasurement of autoantibodies in the test sample is conducted using theELISA assay as described above in Example 2.

In one experiment, the sera sample from an individual suspected ofhaving an autoimmune disease is tested for presence and levels ofautoantibodies specific to multiple moesin fragments representingdifferent moesin domains. Specifically, a first set of micro wells ofthe ELISA plate are coated with moesin fragments derived from theN-terminal FERM domain; a second set of micro wells are coated withmoesin fragments derived from the helical domain; and a third set ofmicro wells are coated with moesin fragments derived from the C-terminaltail domain. Once the moesin fragments are immobilized and stabilized totheir separate wells, diluted patient sera are added to each well, underconditions allowing antibody-antigen binding. After a series of washingand labeling steps, each well is measured for OD₄₅₀ value to detect andquantify antibodies bound to the specific moesin fragment.

The OD₄₅₀ values from a set of wells that represent autoantibodies to aparticular moesin domain are compiled and compared to the referencedatabase or a reference sample data to determine the subject patient'sdisease status—whether he/she has a particular type of autoimmunedisease and the stage of the disease. A matrix analysis of relativelevels of autoantibodies to different moesin domains is also used toassist in determining the subject's disease status. If a patient has lowlevel of autoantibodies to the N-terminal FERM domain but high level ofautoantibodies to the helical or C-terminal tail domain, she is likelydeveloping fibrosis related disorders such as the Sjogren's Syndrome orsystemic sclerosis. If a patient has high level of autoantibodies to theC-terminal tail domain, either alone, or in combination with low levelsof autoantibodies to the N-terminal FERM domain and the helical domain,he is likely developing pathological conditions associated with abnormalapoptosis of epithelial cells or endothelial cells such as aplasticanemia. Quantitatively, the relative fold differences in levels ofautoantibodies to different moesin domains are also used to correlatewith disease types and disease states.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of detecting an anti-moesin autoantibodyin a subject suspected of having an autoimmune disorder, comprising thefollowing steps: a) providing a composition comprising a moesin fragmentconsisting of SEQ ID NO:2, b) contacting under antigen-antibody bindingconditions said moesin fragment with a sample obtained from saidsubject; and c) determining a level of the anti-moesin autoantibody insaid sample; wherein the autoimmune disorder is selected from connectivetissue disease (CTD), systemic sclerosis and Sjorgren's Syndrome.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the following step: d) comparingthe level of the anti-moesin autoantibody in said sample from step c) toa reference database correlating anti-moesin autoantibody levels topathological states of the autoimmune disorder.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the subject is undergoing a treatment for the autoimmunedisorder, further comprising the following step: d) comparing the levelof the anti-moesin autoantibody in said sample from step c) to ananti-moesin autoantibody level in a reference sample obtained from thesame subject prior to the treatment.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the following step: d) comparing the level of the anti-moesinautoantibody in said sample from step c) to an established normal rangeof anti-moesin autoantibody levels.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe subject has pulmonary complications.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the subject has one or more symptoms selected from the groupconsisting of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), interstitial lungdisease (ILD), lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,bronchiectasis and lung infection.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein themoesin fragment is conjugated to a carrier.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the composition of step a) further comprises an additionalseparate moesin fragment consisting of SEQ ID NO:4.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the composition of step a) further comprises anadditional separate moesin fragment consisting of SEQ ID NO:5.